An armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) used child soldiers as young as 13 to invade and loot the town of Macomia, in Cabo Delgado province, on May 10, 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a press release issued a few days ago.

"The recruitment and use of children under the age of 15 as child soldiers is a war crime," warns the human rights organization, which clarifies, however, that it is "not confirmed whether the children also took part in the fight against the government's armed forces."

The insurgents attacked Macomia and looted stores and warehouses before attacking government positions in the city, sparking intense fighting.

"Several witnesses, including family members of the boys, told Human Rights Watch that among the al-Shabab fighters who took part in the attack were dozens of boys carrying ammunition belts and AK assault rifles. Two people from the same family said they recognized their 13-year-old nephew among the children," says the statement, quoted by Human Rights Watch. VOA.

"The use of children as soldiers by the armed group Al-Shabab is cruel, illegal and only adds to the horrors of the conflict in Cabo Delgado," says Zenaida Machado, senior Africa researcher at HRW, quoted in the note, adding that the insurgents "must immediately release all children from their ranks and prevent any further recruitment".

"Al-Shabab's ability to recruit, train and use child soldiers in Cabo Delgado is very worrying," continues Machado, who says that "Mozambican authorities, armed groups and international partners must step up their efforts to ensure that children remain safe at school and at home and keep children off the battlefield."

HRW reports that it spoke by telephone with six residents who witnessed the attack on Macomia and with two aid workers in the region, who said that "the fighters, including dozens of boys, arrived in the town at around 4am on 10 May, divided into at least three groups of "hundreds".

The images seen by Human Rights Watch, and now widely shared on social media, appear to show some of the fighters, including a child, with weapons and moving freely near a local market.

"One of the people who hid in the surrounding forests was 22-year-old shopkeeper Abu Rachide, who told Human Rights Watch that when they arrived in the town, the fighters engaged peacefully with the people and told the residents not to fear or run away, as they had "only gone for the food," reads the note, which adds: "My sister and I decided to flee anyway because we didn't want to take any risks, but many people were left behind."

Abu Rachide said he had seen dozens of children among the fighters, including his 13-year-old nephew, who has been missing since the January 10 attack in Mucojo.

"I saw him with my own eyes carrying a big gun and an ammunition belt and acting like a big confident man," said Abu Rachide who, when he called his nephew, "the boy waved to him and continued his mission."

Abu Rachide's sister, Aida, confirmed the story.

"The boy seemed very comfortable carrying a gun and following instructions from [his elders]," she said and wondered "how he became such a fighter in just four months?"